Written in the socio-political background of Polish- Cossack war and the Khemelnsky massacre, the novel The Slave unfolds many layers of religion, philosophy, vulnerabilities and guilt of man. The novel also portrays the critical or unbiased representation of the jew community. Isaac Bashevis Singer is a Jewish immigrant writer, and he is known for his unbiased representation of the Judaism. In this novel also Singer portrays this criticism of religion and Judaism and he questions the aim or meaning of the religion if it only serves for the separation of humans. The novel carries various religious allusions, symbols and philosophical truths.
The protagonist Jacob is a religious Jew, with extreme beliefs. He is described as ” he resembles the men in the holy pictures that hung in the chapel in the valley”. He upholds his Jewish identity. At the same time he is in a religious conflict and dilemma. Being an ardent believer , sexual relations and marriage with an “outsider” or non Jew is not allowed in Judaism. But his intense love for Wanda is in conflict with this. Here, a juxtaposition between free will and determinism is evident. The question that does God control his destiny or does Jacob controls his destiny is always in juxtaposition in his mind. In the relationship between Jacob and Wanda the novel questions the religion and the customs by giving the notion that, why do we follow certain rituals if it intends the seperatedness of individuals rather than their union. Apart from this internal dilemma, one external dilemma is there, that is the thought of discrimination or exclusion in the village. And this made him to tell that Wanda is deaf and mute to hide her ethnic Identity.
Another question of choice, righteousness comes in the instance where Teresa tries to seduce Jacob. But Jacob refuses and Teresa feels guilt and she laments.
There are several biblical allusions present in the novel. When Jacob changes Wanda’s name to Sarah, he is alluded to Abraham who changes his wife’s name to Sarah. The name of their son Benjamin also carry biblical allusion. And he takes him to Jerusalem for pilgrimage. Towards the end novelist presents the ultimate philosophy of life by the growing cemetery, which included the remains of Sarah, which was not accepted by the community because of Sarah not being a Jew. So here Singer portrays the ultimate philosophy and truth of life, the death. Death is the leveller, which is equal for everyone irrespective of race and religion. And everyone gets equality through death.
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